Dennis Rodman Says He's Not Returning To North Korea

Ever since former basketball pro Dennis Rodman began taking trips to North Korea to hangout with his buddy Kim Jong, he's received tons of backlash, and up until this point he's remained pretty defiant and said he'll befriend anyone he wants. Plus, he plans to visit the country many more times in the future, he said, but now he's singing a different tune.

In an interview with ESPN, Rodman said he's not planning to return to North Korea, because he doesn't want to upset anymore people.

"If you don't want me to go back there ever again, I won't go back," said Rodman. "I don't want people to look at me as the devil or evil person....If I put anyone in harm's way, I apologize, you know."

Obviously, the ex-basketball great was far better at pulling rebounds off the boards than he is at international diplomacy, but that didn't stop him from trying to play peace-maker of sorts between the U.S. and North Korea, and he even used an exhibition basketball game to help his cause.

Rodman said his visits had everything to do with trying to accomplish something good for his country, and he feels proud for at least trying. "At least someone tried," stated the 52 year old. "So that's how I look at it. You know, I don't want to be a hero, I don't want to be this, I don't want to be that. I just wanted to be, just do happy things and do great things in life. That's all I wanted to do. That's it."

As far as his relationship with Jong, Rodman said it was a true friendship, and he's saddened by how the media portrayed everything. "I wish they understood the whole purpose of why I went to North Korea," he said. "[The media said] I kissed his a-- by singing him 'Happy Birthday', I kissed his a-- by doing this, by saying I liked the guy, I kissed his a--, No I didn't."